Funeral held for soldier who died at Royal Windsor Horse Show

The riding boots of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan were carried reversed in her horse’s stirrups as the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery soldier was laid to rest in London.

Family, friends, regimental senior staff and military colleagues filled The Guards’ Chapel at Wellington Barracks to pay their respects to the 24-year-old, who died after falling from her horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on 15 May.

LBdr Sullivan’s horse Neymar carried her boots in the funeral procession, a traditional military sign of a final journey.

The riderless horse, also known in ceremonial tradition as a caparisoned horse, represents the absent rider.

The empty saddle marks the loss, while the reversed boots symbolise that the soldier is taking one final look back.

LBdr Sullivan’s coffin, draped in the Union flag, travelled by gun carriage from The Royal Mews to The Guards’ Chapel, while state trumpeters from The Band of the Household Cavalry played fanfares on its arrival.

A three-round volley was fired in Wellington Barracks after the service, and LBdr Sullivan’s personal items, including her cap and medals, were presented to her family.

Flags flew at half-mast at all Army buildings in London in her honour.

Floral tributes spelling out “Sully”, the name used by her friends, were placed among photographs showing her in uniform and riding her horse.

LBdr Sullivan, who served with the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, suffered fatal injuries after falling at about 7pm after exiting the arena at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Military riders honour King’s Troop soldier Ciara Sullivan at Army Equestrian Championships

She joined the Army Training Centre in Pirbright in November 2020 and entered the King’s Troop in June 2021.

During her service, she took part in major ceremonial duties including the late Queen’s state funeral in 2022 and the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023.

LBdr Sullivan was involved in multiple royal gun salutes in Hyde Park and Green Park.

She had recently qualified as an advanced regimental riding instructor and was known for developing young horses and training military ones.

She also gave riding lessons to mounted gunners in her sub-section and was often chosen to instruct officers within the King’s Troop.

In a tribute issued after LBdr Sullivan death, her commanding officer said: “Lance Bombardier (LBdr) Ciara Sullivan, ‘Sully’ to her friends, was to all who had the privilege of serving alongside her, a bright light in any room she entered.

“An immensely professional soldier and an exceptional jockey, she approached every day within The Troop with an infectious energy – the kind that lifted those around her without effort or intention – and was unfailingly present for her comrades in both the small moments and the hard ones.”

Buckingham Palace previously said the King was “greatly shocked and saddened” by her death and would share his condolences with her family.

SOURCE: FORCES NEWS

https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/equestrian/ciara-sullivans-boots-ride-reversed-stirrups-kings-troop-soldier-laid-rest